Adjustable switch connection.



No. 726,613. PATENTED .APR. 28, 1903. v r. c; ANDERSON.

' ADJUSTABLE SWITOH CONNECTION.

APPLIOATION nun 8EPT.13. moz.

.10 MODEL- mm: 7 x IM/A FRANK C. ANDERSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO N. PAUL FENNER, JR, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

ADJUSTABLE SWITCH CONNECTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettrslatent No. 726,613, dated April 28, 1903. Application filed September 13, 1902. Serial No. 123,266. (No model.)

of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Switch Connections, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to the mechanism for adjustably connecting the point-rails of a switch to the switch-throwing bar; and it has for its object the provision of simple and efficient means for effecting this adjustment,

which will enable the point-rails to be adjusted independently of each other and at the same time accurately, so as to fit to the main rails and without the liabilityof the parts becoming corroded, and whereby a very nice adjustment can be obtained, as well as one that will be perfectly secure and rigid.

The novelty of my invention will be hereinafter set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation through themain' rail and point-rail just above the switchthrowing bar, showing the latter and the parts of my invention as applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation showing the parts of the switch-throwing bar disconnected from the lug-plate. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the part of the switch-throwing bar shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the adjustingplate.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.

A, Figs. 1 and 2, represents the main rail near the. end of the switch-point, and B the switch-point rail adjacent thereto and resting at its base on arail-plate C, secured to two adjacent ties, between which the switch-actuating bar D passes.

Riveted, as at a, to the operating-bar D is a strap-plate E, which is bent up and extends toward the rails and is parallel with the bar D, leaving a space b between the two, and directly under this strap-plate is secured the lug-plate F, which is secured by bolt 0 and an intermediate plate d to the point-rails, as

shown.

The strap-plate E- and the operating-bar D have through them longitudinal slots ef, registering with each other, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, while the lug pl ate-F has through it simply a perforationfor the passage of the connecting-bolt g.

The operating-bar D has upon its upper side, between the bolt 9 and the rivets a, a series of perforations h, which may extend through the plate, if desired. These perforations are equidistant and are staggered in parallel rows, four of such rows being shown.

Between the lug-plate F and the operating bar D is secured a plate I, which I designate the adj usting-plate, and which has through w it a transverse slot 1' for the passage of the bolt g and upon its under side a series of downward-projecting lugs j, in this instance four in number, arranged to form a parallelogram and adapted to engage with any 'four of the series of perforations h in the bar D to lock the plate I, and with it the lug-plate F, between the strap-plateE and operatingbar D. p

The bolt G passes through the slot f in the bar D, the transverse slot 71in the, plateI, the perforation in thelug-plate F, and the longitudinal slot e in the strap-plate E, and is held 'bya cap-plate 70, Figs. 1 and 2, strad dling the strap-plate E, and by a retainingnut L, binding upon said cap-plate. This simple manner of uniting the lug-plate adj ustably to the switch-actuating barD is exceedingly secure, is free from liability of corrosion, and by simply loosening and removing the bolt 9 the lug-plate F can be adj usted with reference to the switch operating 0 bar D to any degree desired to cause the pointrails B to accurately fit to the main rails at all times, and in this' adjustment it ,will sometimes occur that the plate t',-in addition to its longitudinal movement on the'barD will also have a transverse movement, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, in order, owing to the staggering of the perforations or apertures '72., to advance or -retreat the lugplate F, which carries the point-rail to the precise point required.

In the foregoing simple manner and by the simple means employed I am enabled to obtain a perfect and nice adjustment of the point-rails with reference to the main rails without exposing the adjustable connection to the action of the weather, and am enabled to effect the adjustment of the parts by the simple removal and replacement of a single bolt.

It is to be observed that the plate I is somewhat wider than the operating-bar D, so that under all adjustments of the plate I none of the perforations H are exposed to the action of the weather, so as to receive Water or snow or dirt in them, which might detract from the operativeness of the device.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. In adjustable switch connections, the combination of an operating-bar for the pointrails, a lug-plate connected to each of said point-rails, a strap-plate rigidly secured to said operating-bar and overlying said lugplate, an adj Listing-plate interposed between said operating-bar and lug-plate with retaining-pins between said two last-named plates adapted to fit a graduated series of perforations in either of them, and a clamping-bolt uniting all of said plates and passing through longitudinal slots in the top and bottom plates and a transverse slot in the adj ustingplate, whereby said adjusting-plate can have longitudinal as well as transverse movement in its adjustment, substantially as described. 2. In adjustable switch connections, the combination of the operating-bar D provided with the elongated slot f and apertures 72, the adjusting-plate I provided With a transverse slot 0' and retaining-dowels j to engage the apertures h, the lug bar 1 united to the switch-point and overlying the plate I, the strap-plate E secured to the bar D and overlying the lug-plate F, said strap-plate being provided with a longitudinal slot 6, and the tie-bolt g uniting the parts, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

FRANK O. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

WM. J. PEOK, EDWARD PEoK. 

